Refrigerator



Dec. 23, 1941. s. A. MYERS REFRIGERATOR Filed oct. 31, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l gsaga" 1* IN VENTOR ATTO R N EYS ma@ f5 Dec. 23, 1941. s, A MYERS 2,267,664

REFRIGERATOR Filed Oct. 31, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Y a4 Z6 Z7 F u n INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 23, 1941.

S. A. MYERS REFRIGERATOR Filed OCT.. 3l, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR ATTO R N EYS Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOB.

Samuel A. Myers, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 31, 1939, Serial No. 302,222

6 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an apparatus for retaining chilled air in the storage compartment of a refrigerator.

An important object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus for conserving the cold air in a refrigerator that may be easily and expeditiously incorporated in a standard refrigerator construction.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the above-mentioned character that will permit free access to be had to the freezing unit of the refrigerator at all times and that will retain the chilled air in the storage compartment during such times as the refrigerator door is open.

Yet another object of my invention is the pro,- vision of an apparatus of the above-mentioned character that will not substantially reduce the capacity of the original storage compartment of the refrigerator.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the above-mentioned character wherein the storage compartment is provided with conventional removable shelves which divide the same into subcompartments and wherein the construction of the present improvement is unique to permit access to be had to certain of the subcompartments without releasing the cooled air from the other of the said subcompartxnents.

A further Object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of the above-mentioned character that is automatic in its action to seal the storage compartment when the refrigerator door is closed.

A yet further object o f my invention is the provision of an apparatus for retaining the chilled air in the storage compartment of a refrigerator that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and eflicient and efficacious in the performance of its duties.

Other objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this speci cation and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts through the same,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator, showing the door removed and illustrating my apparatus for retaining the chilled air in the storage compartment incorporated therewith,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 'I 'I of Figure 2,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 1, and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Ill designates a refrigerator cabinet of standard construction having a storage compartment II in the lower portion thereof `and a freezing unit I2 in the upper portion. The cabinet is provided with an open vertical side and the door I3 is hingedly mounted therein in the conventional manner. The door extends the full height and width of the cabinet Il] and the opening of the door will expose both the refrigerating unit I2 and storage compartment I I.

A false bottom and a rear plate I4 and I5 are mounted in the lower portion of the storage compartment. The bottom plate I4 has a plurality of spaced lugs I4 welded or otherwise xedly secured thereto at the opposite sidesthereof. The lugs extend substantially beyond the side edges of the plate to overlie the horizontal webs of left and right ang1e-iron supports I5 and I6, respectively, and the front and rear edges Il and I8 of the plate are curved upwardly, as illustrated in Figure 2. The lower edge I8' of the rear plate I5 is spaced above and in vertical alignment with the upwardly curved rear edge I8 of the bottom plate and the upper edge I9 thereof is bent inwardly and upwardly and bolted, or otherwise secured, to the back side of the cabinet I6.

Left and right vertical angle-iron supports 20 and 2| are bolted, or otherwise secured, to the sides of the cabinet I0 adjacent'the open side thereof and with webs 22 and 23, respectively, spaced slightly inwardly from the inner face of the door I3 when the same is in the closed position. A plurality of horizontal superposed shelves 24, 25 and 26 are removably positioned within the storage compartments to dene subcom-partments 2l, 28 and 29, and the topmost shelf 26 is vdisposed directly under the refrigerating unit I2. The angle-iron clips 38 are welded, or otherwise secured, to the flanges 22 and 23 with J5 the vertical web 3| disposed in abutting relation Vshield 61 attached thereto. tends along the upper margin of the shield and with the inner faces of the flanges and with the web 32 thereof extending over the upper extremities of the supports forwardly of the shelves and with the forward edge thereof spaced slightly inwardly from the inner face of the door I3 when in the closed position.

Rollers 33 and 34 are mounted on the side walls of the storage compartment forwardly of the angle supports I5 and I6 and laterally of the forward edge I1 of the bottom plate I4; rollers 35 and 36 are mounted on the side walls of the storage compartment rearwardly of the angle supports I5 and I6 and laterally of the rear edge I8 of the bottom plate and rollers 31 and 38 are mounted on the side walls of the compartment above the upper edge I9 of the rear plate I5 and in vertical alignment with rollers 35 and 36.

Each of the roller assemblies 33, 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38 includes a hub 39 having an annular flange 40 secured to the side walls of the cabinet by means of screws 4l, or the like. The member 42 is formed with a barrel section 43 adapted to be slidably received within the hub 39 and formed with an annular flange 44 disposed in abutting relation to the edge of the hub 39. The flanges 46 and -44 cooperate in holding the roller 45 rotatably disposed on the said hub and it is preferable that' the flange 44 be of slightly lesser diameter than the roller 45 in the assemblies 33, 34, 35 and 36 because, as the shield is lowered, the marginal edges thereof attached to the belts pass under these roller assemblies. It is therefore desirable that the peripheral edge of the flange 44 be prevented from engaging the shield to avoid cutting of the shield during its travel over the bottom roller assemblies. The member 42 is held against displacement relative to the hub 39 by means of the inwardly extending lug 46 slidably received in the longitudinal -groove 41 in the periphery of the barrel section 43. The groove 41 is formed with an inner transverse extension 48 so that the member 42 may be slidably inserted within the hub 39 and when a slight rotation is imparted thereto relative to the hub the lug 46 will lockingly engage within the transverse extension 48 to prevent axial displacement of the said member 42.

The equalizing bar 49 is mounted slightly below the top of the cabinet I0 in vertical aligna ment with the front rollers 33 and 34 and comprises telescoping tubes 50 and 5I. The ends of the tubes are fashioned into sprocket drums 52 and 53 which are mounted for rotation upon hubs 54 and 55 secured to the side walls of the cabinet by means of screws 56, or the like. 'I'he helical spring 51 has the end 58 welded, or otherwise secured, to the web 59 extending diametrically across the hub 54 and the other end 66 thereof is attached to the lcore 6I flxedly positioned within the section 5| and held against rotation relative thereto by theset screw 62.

Belts 63 and 64 encircle the rollers 33, 35, 31 and sprocket drum 52, and rollers 34, 36, 3B and sprocket drum 53respectively. The free ends of the belts are joined by a turn buckle connection 65 to vary the tension on the coil spring 66 and to maintain the belts in a taut condition. The portion of the belts normally extending over the sprockets 52 and 53 are perforated to accommodate the teeth of the sprocket, and the portions of the belts passing in front of the storage compartment have a exible 4closure A rigid bar 68 exis normally held in abutting relation with the web 32 of the angle-iron clips 36 by the resilient action of the coil spring 51 in the equalizing bar 49 and the bottom edge of the shield normally curves below the upwardly curving forward edge I1 of the bottom plate I 4.

Strips of felt 69 and 16 are secured to the webs 22 and 23 of the vertical supports 20 and 2| and strips of felt 1I and 12 are secured to the undersides of the supports I5 and I 6 to prevent wearing of the belts 63 and 64 by virtue of the constant rubbing action which would normally exist between the belts and angle-iron supports vil as the shield 61 is raised and lowered across the front opening of the storage compartment. The strips of felt 69 and 19 will also adhesively unite with the side edges of the shield 61 to hold the same in sealing relation to the open side of the storage compartment.

Lugs 13 are pivoted to the vertical supports 26 and 2l adjacent the bottom plate of each of the subcompartments 21, 28 and 29 and include a weighted portion 14 normally disposed rearwardly of the pivot and a portion 15 extending in front of the pivot and provided with a flat bottom face 16. When the shield 61 is moved downwardly across the open side of the storage compartment against the resilient action of the coil spring 51, the sprocket drums 52 and 53 will keep the upper margin thereof in horizontal relation, and as the bar 68 moves below the bottom plate of any of the subcoinpartments the Weighted portions 14 rearwardly of the pivot of the lug 13 will cause the same to swing outwardly and to move the flat lower face 16 thereof into engagement with the upper edge of the bar to prevent upward movement of the same.

It may thus be seen that the flexible shield 61 may be moved downwardly to progressively expose the subcompartments 21, 28, and 29 and that, as the same is lowered, the perforaticns in the belts 63 and 64 will rotate the equalizer bar 49 to tension the coil spring 51. When the lugs 13 swing outwardly to move the flat lower face 'I6 above the bar 68, the front portion 'I5 thereof will move outwardly into contactual relation with the inner face of the door I3 in a manner whereby closing of the door will bring the inner face thereof into engagement with the front portion of the lug to pivotally actuate the same rearwardly of the bar 68 and to permit the spring tensioned equalizer bar to move the shield upwardly sufficiently to bring the said bar 68 into contactual relation with the web 32 and to once more effectively seal the storage compartment.

The door I3 may be opened to permit access to be had to the freezing unit and the shield G1 will eifectively seal the storage compartment to retain the chilled air therein. If desired, the shield may be lowered to expose the upper subcompartment and the adherence of the curtain to the felt strips 69 and 16 will prevent the chilled air in the lower subcompartments from escaping upon open and closing movement of the door. The lugs will be automatically released from the bar 66 to permit the equalizer bar to return the shield to the normally extended position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open vertical side and a door to close the said open side, of an inner flexible closure element, endless belts arranged at each side of the compartment and having one run extending vertically from the top to the bottom thereof, roller members supporting the belts, resilient means cooperative with the said belts for normally holding the said closure element in an extended position relative to the open side but permitting the same to be moved across the opening to expose a selected portion of the compartment, and means engageable with the closure element when the door is open to hold the same in the adjusted position but adapted to be released from engagement therewith upon closing of the door to permit the said resilient means to move the closure element to the extended position.

2. The combination with a refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open vertical side and a door to close the said open side, of an inner nexible closure element, endless belts arranged at each side of the compartment and having one run extending vertically from the top to the bottom thereof, roller members supporting the belts, resilient means cooperative with the said belts for normally holding the said closure element in an extended position relative to the open side but permitting the same to be moved across the opening to expose a selected portion of the compartment, straps underlying the side margins of the closure element adapted to adhesively connect therewith to at all times seal the closed portions of the compartment, and pivoted lugs mounted at spaced intervals along the vertical sides of the opening and adapted to engage the closure element when the door is open to hold the same in the adjusted position but adapted to be automatically released by engagement with the inner face of the door upon closing of the same to permit the said resilient means to return the closure element to the extended position.

3. The combination with a refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open vertical side and a door to close the said open side, of an inner flexible closure element,

a spring roller mounted for rotation above the said closure element, sprockets carried by and rotatable with the roller, perforated belts connected tothe closure element and extending over the sprockets with the said perforations receiving the teeth of the same, saidy spring roller normally acting to hold the closure element in an extended position relative to the open side but permitting the same to be moved across the opening to expose a selected portion of the compartment, and means engageable with the closure element when the door is open to hold the same in the adjusted position but adapted to be automatically released by engagement with the inner face of the door upon closing of the same to permit the said spring roller to move the closure element to the extended position.

4. In a. refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open vertical side and a door to close the said side; a bottom plate spaced above the bottom of the storage compartment; a back platespaced inwardly from the rear wall of the said compartment; an inner flexible closure element; a `spring roller mounted for rotation above the said closure element; sprockets carried by and rotatable with the said spring roller; rollers disposed at the corners of the said bottom and back plates; an endless belt encircling the said rollers and sprockets at each side of the compartment, each of the said belts y having a perforated section for receiving the teeth of its respective sprocket, said belts being connected to the closure element to permit the spring roller to normally hold the same in an extended position relative to the open side but permitting the closure elementl to be moved across the opening to expose a selected portion of the compartment.

5. In a refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open vertical side and a door to close the said side; a bottom plate spaced above the bottom of the storage compartment; a back plate spaced inwardly from the rear wall of the said compartment; an inner flexible closure element arranged at the front of the compartment; a spring roller mounted for rotation above the said closure element; rollers disposed at the corners of the said bottom and back plates; a tautly stretched endless belt encircling the said rollers at each side of the compartment, said belts being connected to the closure element to permit the spring roller to normally hold the same in an extended position relative to the open side but permitting the closure element to be moved across the opening to expose a selected portion of the compartment, and means engageable with the closure element when the door is open to hold the same in the adjusted position but adapted to be automatically released by engagement with the inner face of the door upon closing of the same to permit the said spring roller to return the closure element to the extended position.

6. In a refrigerator having a storage compartment provided with an open side and a door to close the same, an inner closure element movable vertically across the open side of the refrigerator, actuator means cooperative with the closure element to constantly urge the same into a position to close the compartment, and vertically spaced pivoted lugs disposed at the opposite sides of the compartment and slightly rearwardly of the closure element, the portion of the lugs rearwardly of the pivot being weighted to automatically swing the same out-l wardly above the lowered closure element and the portion thereof extending forwardly of the pivot projecting beyond the plane of the inner face of the door when in the closed position, whereby closing of the door will cause the inner face thereof to engage the forwardlyextending portion of the lugs in a manner to pivotally aotuate the same to release said closure element and whereby the closure element will thereafter engage the lugs to hold the same in the releasing position.

SAMUEL A. MYERS. 

